First league defeat: Dinamo dominated, Rijeka scored

Stadium Kantrida, 22.9.2012.

MAXtv Prva liga, 9. round

HNK Rijeka - GNK Dinamo 3:0 (1:0)

Referees: Zlatko Šimčić (Koprivnica), Borut Križarić (Čakovec), Tomislav Hudika (Varaždin), Mario Zebec (Cestica)

Spectators: 9.000

Rijeka: Lisjak - Datković, Knežević, Neretljak - Mujanović, Kreilach, Weitzer, Močinić (87. Vranješ), Čaval (74. Marić) - Benko (68. Čulina), Cesarec

Dinamo: Kelava - Vrsaljko, Tonel (60. Kovačić), Vida, Pivarić - Ademi (77. Peko), Brozović - Carrasco (46. Alispahić), Sammir, Čop - Beqiraj

Yellow cards: Neretljak (34.), Mujanović (72.) / Kelava (34.), Čop (60.), Vrsaljko (81.), Pivarić (86.)

Goals: 1:0 Cesarec (16.), 2:0 Weitzer (54.), 3:0 Kreilach-11m (83.)

In a great atmosphere, in front of 9.000 spectators at Kantrida, Dinamo suffered first league defeat. Despite the fact Modri were a better side that dominated the game it was Rijeka who was incredibly efficient and got a (too) big victory.

Dinamo came to Kantrida, a tough away match, with the desire to win and so did coach Ante Čačić pick his team. Modri had offensive full backs, Vrsaljko and Pivarić, youngsters Ademi and Brozović in the middle and Carrasco, Sammir, Čop and Beqiraj in attack. Maybe even more than expected, Dinamo dominated the game like never before at Kantrida but the final score showed something completely different.

Modri had ball possession and Rijeka was standing with 9 played inside 20-30 metres from Lisjak, on several occasions all 20 players were at Rijeka's half of the pitch but - the ball didn't want to go in the net. On the other hand, almost every time Rijeka got on Dinamo's half they've managed to score. For the first time, after 16 minutes.

After series of corner kicks and crosses from Dinamo, it was Rijeka who got their first corner but even though Weitzer's cross was cleared he got another chance and certainly made the most of it. Weitzer made a cross to the far post where Benko was alone and made a header that was saved by Kelava but the ball fell for Cesarec who had an easy job of scoring from five metres.

Dinamo pushed even harder after getting behind and Beqiraj hit his first post of the day in the 22nd minute; second after that Brozović tried his shot but it went inches away from goal. Carrasco had the next chance, he passed Lisjak who rushed out but still managed to block his shot and gave Dinamo another corner. In additional time of the first half, when all Dinamo players were focused on attack, Mujanović had a great chance after a counter attack but it was Kelava who made a brilliant save.

In the second half - same story. Dinamo dominated, many times the ball was on the five metres line but somehow it always got blocked or went away from the goal. Coach Čačić put Mehmed Alispahić at halftime and Mateo Kovačić for centre back Tonel half on hour before time but Rijeka defended with style and - luck. Lucky part was when Beqiraj, again, hit the post in the 46th minute. This time our striker did everything great, got to the box and placed a very nice left foot shot that Lisjak had no chance to stop but the post did it's job.

Just like in the first half, Rijeka scored as soon as they got to Dinamo's box. Mujanović made a cross from the right side, Dinamo's centre backs didn't react as they should've and the ball came to Weitzer who placed a great volley shot to the bottom corner of the net; it was just one of those days. Nine Rijeka players were in the box until the end of the game and it was very hard for the ball to go pass them.

Even though it seemed like it's "impossible" for Dinamo not to score, for the ball not end it the net, but that's exactly what happened. In fact, couple of minutes from time Rijeka scored the third one. Of course, it was another counter attack, Vrsaljko and Čulina were in the box, Rijeka player fell and the referee pointed to the spot. Kreilach was confident and he made it 3:0.

That was the end of the game in which the final result doesn't by bit show what happened on the pitch but that's football and days like this are not so rare. Dinamo suffered first league defeat but they didn't play a bad match, on the contrary. Croatian champions now turn their focus to Tuesday and the Cup game against Vrsar.